System and method for overriding a low marking material status in a facsimile environment

Abstract

A method and system for printing during a low ink condition. The system receives a user override instruction and determines if an amount of available ink is greater than a no ink condition. The system prints a page stored in a memory when the amount of available ink is greater than a no ink condition. The system also deletes a previously printed and stored page from the memory before the system prints the page from memory. After the printing process, the amount of available ink is updated. If the amount of available ink is equal or less than a no ink value, the system prevents the printing of the page in memory and the deletion of the previously printed and stored page in the memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for printing a document on a printing device, comprising the steps of: (a) storing a print job in a memory;   (b) printing a page of the document;   (c) updating an amount of marking material that is available in the printing device after printing a page of the document;   (d) determining if the updated amount is less than or equal to a low marking material reference value;   (e) establishing a low marking material status condition when said step (d) makes a positive determination;   (f) determining if the updated value is greater than a no marking material reference value;   (g) determining if the printing device has completed printing the document when said step (f) makes a positive determination;   (h) informing a user of a low marking material condition and requesting a user override input when said step (g) makes a positive determination; and   (i) deleting a previously printed document from the memory when a user override input is received.   
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (j) begin printing a next document after execution of said step (i).   
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (j) informing a user of a no marking material condition when said step (f) makes a negative determination.   
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (j) inhibiting printing when no user override input is received.   
     
     
       5. A method for printing a document on a printing device, comprising the steps of: (a) storing a print job in a memory;   (b) printing a page of the document;   (c) updating an mount of ink that is available in the printing device after printing a page of the document;   (d) determining if the updated mount is less than or equal to a low ink reference value;   (e) establishing a low ink status condition when said step (d) makes a positive determination;   (f) determining if the updated value is greater than a no ink reference value;   (g) determining if the printing device has completed printing the document when said step (f) makes a positive determination;   (h) informing a user of a low ink condition and requesting a user override input when said step (g) makes a positive determination; and   (i) deleting a previously printed document from the memory when a user override input is received.   
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of: (j) begin printing a next document after execution of said step (i).   
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of: (j) informing a user of a no ink condition when said step (f) makes a negative determination.   
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of: (j) inhibiting printing when no user override input is received.